Christopher D. Pham

Chris is a trusted advisor for clients in business, sports and entertainment.

Chris serves as on-demand, outside general counsel for his clients on a wide array of legal issues as they arise, including entity formation, corporate structure, and governance matters; intellectual property protections; evaluating business and investment opportunities and strategic business planning; securing legacy through non-profit formation; estate planning; labor and employment; and real estate acquisitions, landlord-tenant issues, and construction matters. His clients range from start-up entrepreneurs to nationally recognized athletes and businesses. Chris has particular experience representing clients in the industries of sports and entertainment, hospitality (i.e., hotels, restaurants, franchises, nightclubs, and bars), real estate and construction; financial services; and emerging agriculture/cannabis. Much like a quarterback, Chris helps develop the game plan and strategy, and coordinates the right team of legal experts to assist.

Chris is committed to pro bono work and leads the firm’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee. He also serves on the Recruiting & Hiring Committee and Lateral Hiring Committee. Chris helped launch and is co-chair of Fredrikson’s Sports & Entertainment Group.

Representative Outside General Counsel Experience

• Lead counsel for credit union in connection with name, image, and likeness (NIL) marketing campaign with collegiate and high school student-athletes, and compliance and contract matters.
• Represent collegiate and high school athletes in connection with name, image, and likeness (NIL) matters.
• Lead counsel for insurance company developing new-to-the-market insurance product relating to name, image, and likeness (NIL) in collegiate sports.
• Represent NBA player in connection with entity formation, corporate structuring, general corporate, and investment matters.
• Lead counsel for professional athlete management company in connection with business formation, contracts, and general corporate matters.
• Represent NBA player in connection with prenuptial agreement, estate planning, non-profit organization formation, and real estate investments.
• Lead counsel for family-owned business in connection with real property acquisitions, landlord-tenant disputes, employment matters, franchise opportunities, estate planning, and third-party subpoenas.
• Represent national entertainment and artist management company in connection with general corporate, intellectual property, and contract matters.
• Lead counsel for national trucking company in connection with general corporate, employment, bank and finance, and construction matters.
• Represent hospitality client in connection with liquor licensing, intellectual property protections, partnership agreements, lease agreements, and employment matters.
• Lead counsel for several general contractors regarding mechanics lien, employment, and contract matters.
• Represent small business client in connection with bank and finance, estate planning, landlord-tenant, construction, and hospitality matters.
• Lead counsel for sports medicine facility regarding real estate and contract matters.
• Represent recording artist in connection with sale of music catalog.
• Lead counsel for private security company with licensing and employment matters.
• Represent recording artists in connection with reviewing Record Label Agreement, Management Agreement, Licensing Agreement and Production Agreement.
• Lead counsel for multi-platinum recording artist in an action for False Endorsement and False Designation of Origin under the Lanham Act and violation of the right of publicity.
• Represented the estate of a world-renowned, music icon in connection with state court lawsuits.
• Lead counsel for nightclub/concert venue against claims of alleged fraud and breach of contract.

Education

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, J.D., 2009, cum laude
• Chapman University, M.A., 2006
• University of Minnesota, B.A., 2004

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2009
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2009

• Minnesota Super Lawyers, Entertainment & Sports, 2024
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2013-2018, 2021-2023
• Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer, Independently Rated Lawyers, 2022, 2023
• Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, Securities Litigation, 2015-2022
• 40 Under 40 Honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2021
• Attorney of the Year, Group Recognition, Minnesota Lawyer, 2019
• Top 100 Under 50 Emerging Leader, Diversity MBA Magazine, 2019
• Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2018
• Diversity Award, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2013
• Leonard E. Lindquist Pro Bono Award, 2013
• Pro Bono Spirit Award, 2012

Professional Activities

• University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Professor, Sports & NIL Clinic and Sports Law Moot Court Competition
• Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Directors
• American Bar Association, Member
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
• Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Member

Community

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Board of Trustees, 2018-present
• Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Board of Directors, 2011-2017, 2022-present; Emerging Leaders Group, Co-Chair, 2011-2017; and Member, 2011-present
• The Legal Revolution, Board of Directors, 2022-present
• Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Board of Directors, 2024-present
• University of St. Thomas Law Mentor Program, Mentor, 2019-present
• Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Volunteer Attorney, 2012-2023
• Greater Twin Cities United Way, Leadership Council, 2021-2023
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Access to Justice Subcommittee Member, 2020-2023
• Legal Access Point, Legal Clinic Volunteer, 2019-2022
• YouthLink, Legal Clinic Volunteer, 2010-2020
• Hennepin County Housing Court Project, Legal Clinic Volunteer, 2010-2020
• Cookie Cart, Board of Directors, 2012-2015
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, Letters to Creditors Volunteer Attorney, 2012-2014
• Tubman Safety Project, Volunteer Attorney, 2012-2014
• YMCA, Downtown Community Board of Directors, 2011-2014